Outdoor cooling or heating system creating a substantially open temperature-controlled zone for personnel

ABSTRACT

A cooling or heating system creating an open, unbounded, temperature-controlled zone for personnel having HVAC equipment for producing and delivering cooled or heated air, an apertured deck member capable of supporting personnel, and air delivery conduits connecting the HVAC equipment with said deck member. The system may be transportable.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/279,459, filed Oct. 21, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of devices used to providelocalized cooling or heating in an outdoor setting, and moreparticularly to such devices capable of cooling or heating personnel,such as athletes standing or sitting on the sidelines of sportingevents, firefighters at the scene of a fire, workers in high or lowtemperature environments, participants in long running races, etc., andmore particularly relates to such devices that provide cool or warm airin a controlled zone accessible by the personnel.

Sporting events such as football, soccer, track, etc., occurringoutdoors are subject to weather conditions of extreme high or lowtemperatures. The athletes in these events, particularly when standingor sitting on the sidelines during a contest or after participation, canbecome overheated or badly chilled. Likewise, workers toiling outdoorsunder extreme temperature conditions, in particular when heavy safety orprotective gear must be worn, are susceptible to overheating orhyperthermia.

It is an object of this invention to provide a system for supplyingcooled or heated air to a localized outdoor zone in a controlled mannersuch that personnel may enter the temperature-controlled zone to bewarmed or cooled, wherein the temperature-controlled zone is not a fullyenclosed environment. It is a further object to provide such a system inone embodiment that is relatively unobtrusive so as not to interferewith fan sight lines and not to involve structures that may endanger theathletes during participation in the sporting event. It is anotherobject to provide such a system that is transportable such that thesystem can be brought to any location where a controlled heating orcooling zone is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention comprises a system for producing heatedand/or chilled air and delivering the air to a relatively large,substantially open zone on the sidelines of an athletic field, such thatthe athletes standing or sitting in this temperature-controlled zonewill be cooled or warmed as needed. The system comprises a HVAC systemcapable of producing and delivering cooled air or warmed air in knownmanner, a deck capable of supporting a plurality of athletes andpreferably one or more benches, and conduit means for delivering theheated or cooled air to the deck. The deck is provided with apertures,slots, vents or the like such that the heated or cooled air is deliveredupwardly through the vents, thereby creating a zone of air above thedeck having a temperature lower or higher than the ambient. Preferably,the deck is embedded such that its upper surface is flush with thesurface of the sidelines. Means for draining rainwater and the like arealso incorporated in the system. Relatively short tower members withlateral vents may also be provided.

In another embodiment, the invention comprises a wheeled, transportablesystem for producing heated and/or chilled air and delivering the air toa substantially open zone accessible to personnel, the system comprisinga wheeled vehicle or trailer. The system further comprises a HVAC systemcapable of producing and delivering cooled air or warmed air in knownmanner, a deck capable of supporting a plurality of personnel andpreferably one or more benches, conduit means for delivering the heatedor cooled air to the deck, and preferably return air means for recyclingair from the temperature-controlled zone back through the HVAC system.The deck is provided with apertures, slots, vents or the like such thatthe heated or cooled air is delivered upwardly through the vents,thereby creating a zone of air above the deck having a temperature loweror higher than the ambient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention with thedeck member shown embedded flush with ground level.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of the in-ground sidelinescooling and heating system.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an alternative embodiment showing the towermembers.

FIG. 4 is a partial top view of an embodiment of the deck member showingthe deck vents.

FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention shown as atransportable system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described withregard for the best mode and the preferred embodiments. In a generalsense, in one embodiment the invention comprises a sidelines heatingand/or cooling system for the sidelines of athletic fields, the systemcapable of delivering cooled or heated air into a defined, substantiallyopen or unbounded zone such that personnel standing or sitting in thezone are cooled or warmed as needed, the defined temperature-controlledzone having a temperature lower than the ambient in hot weather and atemperature higher than the ambient in cold weather. In another generalsense, in an alternative embodiment the invention comprises a wheeled,transportable system capable of delivering cooled or heated air into adefined, substantially open unbounded zone such that personnel standingor sitting in the zone are cooled or warmed as needed, the definedtemperature-controlled zone having a temperature lower than the ambientin hot weather and a temperature higher than the ambient in cold weatherThe invention may be structured in various embodiments and the figuresprovided are for illustrative purposes and are not meant to be limiting.

The sidelines cooling and heating system as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4broadly comprises high volume air conditioning (HVAC) means 10 forproducing and delivering cooled or heated air, a deck member 20 capableof supporting personnel and optionally one or more benches, and airdelivery conduits 11 to bring pressurized air from the HVAC means 10into the deck member 20. The treated air is then expelled through theupper support surface 22 of the deck member 20 to create the cooled orheated temperature-controlled zone, as shown in FIG. 2. The treated airzone is not an enclosed area, i.e., it is not a temporary room withwalls and a ceiling, for example, but instead is substantially open onthe sides. The temperature-controlled zone extends preferably to theouter perimeter of the deck member 20 and extends preferably at leastsix feet above the deck member 20. In addition to heating or cooling theair, the HVAC means 10 also improve the humidity of the air.

The HVAC means 10 may be of any known type and may include condensers,chilled water devices, resistance heaters, gas heaters, blowers or likedevices well known in the HVAC industry. The HVAC means 10 should be ofsufficient capacity and power to be able to delivery the needed quantityof treated air over a significant distance, such that preferably theHVAC means 10 may be positioned a good distance from the athleticplaying field, and preferably under the stands if such are present.Alternatively, the HVAC means 10 could be portable, such that they maybe brought near the deck member 20 when the system is to be used, thenremoved to storage when the system is not in use.

The air delivery conduits 11 connect the HVAC means 10 to the deckmember 20 and are preferably buried under the ground surface 99.Multiple conduits 11 may be utilized and the conduits 11 may beconnected at different locations to the deck member 20 in order to moreevenly distribute the treated air.

The deck member 20 comprises a housing 21 with sides and a bottom thatsupports an upper support surface 22, thereby defining an open interior.Preferably, the deck member 20 is embedded in the ground such that itsupper support surface 22 is generally flush with the ground surface 99,as seen in FIG. 1. The interior of the deck member 20 may be providedwith baffles, plenums, sectional walls or other means to betterdistribute the air in an even manner. The upper support surface 22 isconstructed of material such that multiple athletes and one or morebenches may be readily supported thereon. The upper support surface 22is provided with vents 23 such that air delivered into the deck member20 is emitted upwardly from the upper support surface 22. The vents 22are sized sufficiently small such that shoe cleats cannot enter thevents 23. In the representative embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the uppersupport surface comprises a plurality of metal square tubing disposed inspaced parallel relation, the vents 23 being formed by the spacingbetween the square tubing. The vents 23 may also be formed as holes orslots in a plate member, among other possible embodiments.

The system further comprises drain means 30 for removing water from thedeck member 20, as rain and irrigation water may readily enter the vents23 of the upper support surface 22. In the embodiment shown, the drainmeans 30 comprises a sump area 31 positioned beneath the deck housing21, the sump area 31 draining through a drain conduit 32, which maycommunicate with the field sub-drainage system, the storm water removalsystem, or the like. In possible alternative embodiments, the bottom ofthe housing 21 may be sloped, a drainage pump may be utilized, thebottom of the housing 21 may be provided with multiple drainageapertures, etc.

In another alternative embodiment, the system further comprises towermembers 24, preferably relatively short, extending above the uppersupport surface 22 of the deck 20 at one or more locations, as shown inFIG. 3. The towers 24 communicate with the air delivery conduits 11 orthe interior of the housing 21 such that treated air is emitted thoughlateral vents 25 a short distance above the upper support surface 22.The towers 24 may be positioned on the periphery of the deck 20 or atlocations interior to the periphery.

In contrast to embedding the deck 20 flush with the ground surface 99,the deck 20 could be placed directly on the ground surface 99.

It is also contemplated that oxygen from a compressed oxygen tank or anoxygen generator could also be delivered through the system. Likewise,it certain circumstances it may be desirable to increase the humiditylevel by providing misting means.

In the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the invention is atransportable system comprising transportation means 99 for transportingthe system, such as a motorized vehicle or wheeled trailer, such thatthe system can be taken to any outdoor location where atemperature-controlled zone is desired. The system further broadlycomprises high volume air conditioning (HVAC) means 10 for producing anddelivering cooled or heated air, a deck member 20 capable of supportingpersonnel and optionally one or more benches 13, and air deliveryconduits 11 to bring pressurized air from the HVAC means 10 into thedeck member 20. The treated air is then diverted by vanes 12 andexpelled through the deck member 20 to create the substantially opencooled or heated temperature-controlled zone. The temperature-controlledzone extends preferably at least to the outer perimeter of the deckmember 20 and extends preferably at least six feet above the deck member20. The deck member 20 is apertured to allow passage of the treated air,such as in similar manner to the deck member 20 described in the earlierembodiment and shown in FIG. 4. In addition to heating or cooling theair, the HVAC means 10 also improve the humidity of the air.

The HVAC means 10 may be of any known type and may include condensers,chilled water devices, resistance heaters, gas heaters, blowers or likedevices well known in the HVAC industry. The HVAC means 10 should be ofsufficient capacity and power to be able to delivery the needed quantityof treated air to maintain the desired temperature in the treated airzone. Optionally, an air return conduit 17 is provided adjacent the deckmember 20 to pull a portion of the air from the treated air zone intothe HVAC means 10 for recycling through the system.

A short deflection wall 16 may be provided on one or more sides of thedeck member 20 to better control and define the treated air zone. Acanopy 14 mounted on posts 15 may be provided to better control anddefine the treated air zone, as well as to provide shade to personnelusing the system. The transportable system may be self-powered using aportable generator system or may be provided with means to connect withenergy sources at the use site.

It is contemplated that equivalents and substitutions for certainelements and structure set forth above may be obvious to those ofordinary skill in the art, and therefore the true scope and definitionof the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims.

1. A transportable outdoor cooling and heating system creating asubstantially open temperature-controlled zone for personnel, saidsystem comprising: high volume air conditioning means for producing anddelivering cooled or heated air, an apertured deck member capable ofsupporting personnel, and an air delivery conduit connecting said highvolume air conditioning means with said deck member to pass said cooledor heated air through said deck member, thereby creating a substantiallyopen temperature-controlled zone, said system further comprisingtransportation means for transporting said system to differentlocations, wherein said high volume air conditioning means, said deckmember and said air delivery conduit are mounted onto saidtransportation means
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein saidtransportation means comprises a wheeled vehicle.
 3. The system of claim1, wherein said transportation means comprises a trailer.
 4. The systemof claim 1, further comprising a return air conduit positioned adjacentsaid deck member, such that a portion of said heated or cooled air isrecycled through said high volume air conditioning means.
 5. The systemof claim 1, further comprising vanes positioned within said air deliveryconduit to direct the flow of air through said deck member.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising a bench member positioned on saiddeck member.
 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a deflectionwall adjacent said deck member.
 8. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a canopy positioned above said deck member.
 9. Atransportable outdoor cooling or heating system creating a substantiallyunbounded temperature-controlled zone for personnel, said systemcomprising: high volume air conditioning means for producing anddelivering cooled or heated air, an apertured deck member capable ofsupporting personnel, and an air delivery conduit connecting said highvolume air conditioning means with said deck member to pass said cooledor heated air through said deck member, thereby creating a substantiallyopen temperature-controlled zone, said system further comprisingtransportation means for transporting said system to differentlocations, wherein said high volume air conditioning means, said deckmember and said air delivery conduit are mounted onto saidtransportation means.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein saidtransportation means comprises a wheeled vehicle.
 11. The system ofclaim 9, wherein said transportation means comprises a trailer.
 12. Thesystem of claim 9, further comprising a return air conduit positionedadjacent said deck member, such that a portion of said heated or cooledair is recycled through said high volume air conditioning means.
 13. Thesystem of claim 9, further comprising vanes positioned within said airdelivery conduit to direct the flow of air through said deck member. 14.The system of claim 9, further comprising a bench member positioned onsaid deck member.
 15. The system of claim 9, further comprising adeflection wall adjacent said deck member.
 16. The system of claim 9,further comprising a canopy positioned above said deck member.
 17. Atransportable outdoor system creating a substantially opentemperature-controlled zone for personnel, said system comprising: highvolume air conditioning means for producing and delivering cooled orheated air, an apertured deck member capable of supporting personnel,and an air delivery conduit connecting said high volume air conditioningmeans with said deck member to pass said cooled or heated air throughsaid deck member, thereby creating a substantially opentemperature-controlled zone, said system further comprisingtransportation means for transporting said system to differentlocations, wherein said high volume air conditioning means, said deckmember and said air delivery conduit are mounted onto saidtransportation means.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein saidtransportation means comprises a wheeled vehicle.
 19. The system ofclaim 17, wherein said transportation means comprises a trailer.
 20. Thesystem of claim 17, further comprising a return air conduit positionedadjacent said deck member, such that a portion of said heated or cooledair is recycled through said high volume air conditioning means.